We Need an International Ban on Genetically Modified Humans

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It’s Time for an International Ban Genetically Modified Humans

If you could ensure that your future children would be healthy, would you? This is a trivial question because most parents would stop at nothing to ensure that their children are healthy. Human germ-line engineering may soon make it possible to alter the genome of human embryos—permanently changing the genetic blueprint for every cell in an embryo’s body. Through human germ-line technology we could eradicate many debilitating genetic diseases (e.g. Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis etc.), prevent cancer, and even increase the average life span. Human germ-line engineering is prenatal and produces genetically modified traits that can be passed along to subsequent generations—so the resulting genetic alterations are permanent. The utilization of human germ-line engineering technology, however, is analogous to Pandora’s Box. As attractive as it may seem, opening Pandora’s Box and unleashing human germ-line engineering technology could have severe consequences including negative medical or economic ramifications and a potential amplification of social and economic stratification. In this paper I will present views on the consequences and possible regulation of human germ-line engineering. I propose that the risks of human germ-line engineering technology outweigh the potential benefits and therefore this technology needs to be banned.

Today, scientists know the specific locations of 1,400 genes on the human genome that, when defective, cause some form of genetic disease (Lucassen 139). In addition to this, genetic diseases account for thirty percent of all children admitted to hospitals (Lucassen 139). Unfortunately, at this point in time, there are no miracle cu...

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...hnology. The Pandora’s Box of human germ-line engineering does appear beautiful from outside but if opened, many negative health and economic consequences can be unleashed. An international ban of human germ-line engineering is required to keep this technology under control.

Works Cited

Gardner, William. “Can Human Genetic Enhancement be Prohibited” Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 20.1 (February 1995): 65-85.

Holtug, Nils. “Does Justice Require Genetic Enhancements?” Journal of Medical Ethics 25.2 (April 1999): 137-143.

Lucassen, Emy. “Teaching the ethics of genetic engineering” Journal of Biological Education 29 (Summer 1995): 129-139.

Rabino, Isaac. “Ethical Debates in Genetic Engineering: U.S. Scientists’ Attitudes on Patenting, Germ-Line

Research, Food Labeling, and Agri-Biotech Issues” Politics and the Life Sciences 17.2 (1998): 147-163.

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